Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - May 18
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (
www.BigSouthSports.com) – Winthrop outfielder
Alan Benhardt (Malakoff, Texas) has been named the Big South Baseball Player of the Week, while UNC Asheville’s
Lucas Boesen (Las Vegas, Nev.) is the Starting Pitcher of the Week for games played during the final week of the regular season, it was announced today. In addition, Longwood’s
Jackson Garland (Mechanicsville, Va.) and USC Upstate’s
Max Bianchini (Schaumburg, Ill.) were selected as the Co-Relief Pitchers of the Week, while Upstate relief pitcher
Jacob Kirby (Waxhaw, N.C.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
Benhardt batted .625 (10-for-16) with six RBI, eight runs scored and three doubles to help Winthrop clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big South Tournament, its highest seeding since 2017. He posted an .813 slugging percentage and a .700 on-base percentage, drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch twice while not striking out once on the week. The senior opened with a 4-for-5 performance and an RBI in Winthrop’s win over South Carolina, the Eagles’ first victory over the Gamecocks since 2015. He followed with a 3-for-3 effort in Game 2 against Longwood, scoring five runs with two doubles and two RBI while reaching base in all six plate appearances with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Benhardt capped the week with a 3-for-4 outing in the series finale, adding a double, three RBI and three runs scored.
Boesen allowed no runs on three hits across 8.0 innings while striking out a career-high 11 to earn the win for UNC Asheville against regular-season champion High Point on Saturday. He held the Panthers to a .111 batting average while turning in the longest outing of his senior season. The right-hander recorded multiple strikeouts in each of his final four innings, with nine of his 11 punchouts coming on swinging strikes.
Garland tossed 4.1 hitless innings to earn the win and help Longwood clinch its first Big South Tournament berth since 2018. He struck out four and walked one, allowing just a single baserunner among the 14 Winthrop batters he faced. The freshman entered in the fourth inning with a runner on second and immediately struck out his first batter swinging. He then held the Eagles hitless through the eighth inning as Longwood secured an 8-2 series-opening road win.
Bianchini made two scoreless appearances for USC Upstate, earning the win in both outings while tossing 5.0 innings and striking out seven. He allowed four hits and held opponents to a .211 batting average. The sophomore opened the week with 2.0 innings against Clemson, allowing one hit while striking out two after entering in the second inning and retiring the Tigers in order. He stranded two baserunners in the third before returning Friday against Northern Kentucky for 3.0 innings of relief. Entering in the seventh with the Spartans trailing by one, Bianchini struck out two and stranded the bases loaded to shift momentum in Upstate’s favor. He then retired the Norse in order in the eighth before striking out the first two batters of the ninth to earn the win in the Spartans’ seven-run comeback.
Kirby made two relief appearances for USC Upstate, earning the win in Saturday’s comeback victory over Northern Kentucky. He worked 7.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and holding opponents to a .185 batting average. The right-hander opened with 3.0 innings of relief against Clemson, allowing one hit while striking out two after entering in the sixth inning and stranding runners in both the sixth and seventh before retiring the Tigers in order in the eighth. Kirby returned Saturday and worked the final 4.0 innings, allowing one run while striking out three. Entering with Upstate trailing by two in the sixth, he stranded two runners and struck out the first batter he faced before adding strikeouts in both the seventh and eighth. Kirby then closed the win with three groundouts in the ninth to seal the Spartans’ comeback.
Also nominated for Player of the Week:
Garrison Barile (Charleston Southern),
Merik Carter (Gardner-Webb),
Landen Johnson (High Point),
James Green (Presbyterian),
Eli Hudgins (Radford) and
Maloy Heaghney (USC Upstate).
Also nominated for Starting Pitcher of the Week:
Tyrell Williams (Presbyterian),
Raymond Ladd (Radford),
Chris Torres (USC Upstate) and
Luke Earnhardt (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Relief Pitcher of the Week:
Hayden Henry (Charleston Southern),
Colby Putnam (Gardner-Webb),
Dylan Story (High Point),
Robbie Boykin (Presbyterian),
Trey Ludy (Radford) and
Walker Brodt (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week:
Colby Putnam (Gardner-Webb),
Ben Pulliam (Longwood),
Bo Moody (Presbyterian) and
Garrett Byrd (Winthrop).